Tornadoes Ravage Plains States and Kill 6 People in Oklahoma

More than 100 tornadoes were reported from Oklahoma through Kansas, Nebraska and southern Iowa on Saturday

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

Update: Originally, the storms were reported to have killed five people. On Monday morning, Rob Marciano at CNN tweeted that a sixth victim from Woodward, Ok. died from injuries.

Tornadic thunderstorms ravaged parts of the Plains Saturday and Saturday night, killing six people and leaving behind incredible destruction.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, over 100 tornadoes were reported from Oklahoma through Kansas, Nebraska and southern Iowa on Saturday.


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


The deadliest of the tornadoes ravaged the town of Woodward, Oklahoma, where six people were killed and 30 injured.

The tornado ripped through the northwest side of the city, destroying or damaging dozens of homes.

Another tornado tore through the southern portion of Wichita, Kan., causing significant damage but no major injuries.

Wichita, Mid-Continent Airport recorded a wind gust of 84 mph just after the control tower evacuated.

Damage was recorded at the Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems plants. Six buildings at Spirit Aerosystems were heavily damaged while four others had major damage.

According to the Kansas City Star, damage in the Wichita area is estimated at as much as $283 million.

A tornado ripped through the town of Thurman, Iowa, Saturday evening, destroying around 75 percent of the town.

Amazingly, no major injuries were reported, but the remainder of the town is without power and has been evacuated until further notice.

Other notable storm reports from Saturday and Saturday night:

-Road signs were destroyed by a tornado near New Cambria, Kan., Saturday evening.

-Outbuildings, power lines, and gas tanks were damaged or destroyed near Talmage, Kan., Saturday evening.

-Campers and farm outbuildings were damaged in a tornado near New Virginia, Iowa, Saturday evening.

-Multiple homes destroyed or damaged near Conway Springs, Kan., Saturday night.

-Hen egg-sized hail damaged a law enforcement vehicle near Spalding, Neb., around midday Saturday.

-Three-inch diameter hail was reported near Petersburg, Neb., early Saturday afternoon.

-Quarter-sized hail covered the ground near Ringgold, Neb., Saturday afternoon.

-Two to three inches of hail accumulated near Stapleton, Neb., Saturday afternoon.

-Two aircrafts were damaged Saturday night at the Moline Quad-City Airport in Illinois.

-Hail two and a half inches in diameter was reported in North Platte, Neb., Saturday evening.

-Baseball-sized hail was reported just east of Dodge City, Kan., Saturday night.

-Tennis ball-sized hail was reported near Greensburg, Kan., Saturday night.

-Softball-sized hail fell near Randolph, Kan., Saturday night.

-A 74-mph wind gust was recorded at the Russell Airport in Russell, Kan., Saturday afternoon.

-Six homes were damaged in Nebraska City, Neb., by damaging winds Saturday evening.

-A 97-mph wind gust was reported at the Oskaloosa Airport in Iowa Saturday night.

 

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe